Autism

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry you're having difficulties accessing the proper support and understanding for your son. In my experience, you can only go along with the normal rules of engagement for so long. Eventually, when you realise (as is your case) that if you're not getting fair treatment or being ignored, then you have to raise you voice and shout louder. That's the only form of communication many of these organisations respond to, sadly.

If you're able to, I suggest writing/sending a vey strongly worded letter/email straight to the leaders of these organisations detailing how the services have failed you and the consequence of these failures on your son's life and yours. Depending on which organisation you're dealing with, each will have its own, usually flawed, complaints procedure. I suggest you bypass these were possible and find the name and contact details of someone further up the food chain and email/write/phone them directly. Each one will have a regional complaints division, but to get to them, it often takes a lot of time navigating your way through hordes of ineffectual minions. 

You might also need an advocate for this as not everyone feels able to do this by themselves. Depending on where you are in the UK, there are various groups and societies that can help you. In Manchester, there is I Am

https://i-am-autism.org.uk/

They are very supportive.

In the south, there is the charity SEND

https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/

These are just two that I know of. Maybe someone else knows of others.

If you're talking about autism is particular, you have every right to demand an autistic assessment. No one can prevent your son from having one, if you insist. You can call your GP and insist upon a referral. They have no authority to deny you one without solid medical reasons.

Finally, I often contact Government departments directly. You can do this here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations

You can contact the minister responsible or you can contact the Prime Minister's office directly. I have found this to be a most effective approach for tackling some of the systematic failures in public-funded bodies. 

Good luck!

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry you're having difficulties accessing the proper support and understanding for your son. In my experience, you can only go along with the normal rules of engagement for so long. Eventually, when you realise (as is your case) that if you're not getting fair treatment or being ignored, then you have to raise you voice and shout louder. That's the only form of communication many of these organisations respond to, sadly.

If you're able to, I suggest writing/sending a vey strongly worded letter/email straight to the leaders of these organisations detailing how the services have failed you and the consequence of these failures on your son's life and yours. Depending on which organisation you're dealing with, each will have its own, usually flawed, complaints procedure. I suggest you bypass these were possible and find the name and contact details of someone further up the food chain and email/write/phone them directly. Each one will have a regional complaints division, but to get to them, it often takes a lot of time navigating your way through hordes of ineffectual minions. 

You might also need an advocate for this as not everyone feels able to do this by themselves. Depending on where you are in the UK, there are various groups and societies that can help you. In Manchester, there is I Am

https://i-am-autism.org.uk/

They are very supportive.

In the south, there is the charity SEND

https://parents.actionforchildren.org.uk/

These are just two that I know of. Maybe someone else knows of others.

If you're talking about autism is particular, you have every right to demand an autistic assessment. No one can prevent your son from having one, if you insist. You can call your GP and insist upon a referral. They have no authority to deny you one without solid medical reasons.

Finally, I often contact Government departments directly. You can do this here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations

You can contact the minister responsible or you can contact the Prime Minister's office directly. I have found this to be a most effective approach for tackling some of the systematic failures in public-funded bodies. 

Good luck!